Just down the street from Loyola University nestled in a serene neighborhood is a little haven called Sherwood Gardens, known by many Loyola students as the Tulip Garden. Whether you are looking for the perfect picnic spot, a classy photo op with your friends, or simply a quiet spot to relax, the Tulip Garden is the perfect place. And although my sinuses became slightly disturbed during my stay in the garden, the experiences and fun you will surely have is worth the potential sniffles

Enter the Tulip Garden and immediately your senses are flooded with a rainbow of color and the smell of tulips and cherry blossoms. Beams of sunlight flicker through the tree branches, playing on colors, making the scene even more vibrant and breathtaking.

Families come to the garden to have picnics and let their children play. Photography enthusiasts are found around every bush and flower bunch, trying to find just the right angle on a flower. Several of them stopped at a cluster to get a shot of a robin hiding among the blossoms. Other people are simply lounging on blankets, enjoying the sun.

The great thing about the Tulip Garden is that it is one of those places you can go where you no longer feel as if you are in a big, bustling city. The sounds of honking horns, hissing busses and whistling trains cannot be heard within its borders; the garden allows you to escape it all. So open and inviting, yet so secluded and peaceful once you enter, it feels like you are in a whole new world all its own.

If you are feeling stressed about finals, or are just looking for a quiet place to relax, take a walk to the Tulip Garden. I guarantee you won’t regret it.